Launchpad

Hello, I am Jimin Lim, your School President this year, and as part of this role, I am presented with the honour of sharing some of my insights about our school and the course that I hope will be of guidance during your time in St. Andrews.

However, before I start, I want to congratulate all of you on getting accepted into one of the best medical schools (in my opinion) in the UK. It is not something that just anyone can accomplish, and I want to ensure that you give yourselves enough credit for your effort.

This leads to one of the insights I wanted to share with you: believe in yourself and do not be too harsh on yourself. Medicine is a course that requires both academic diligence and a balance between leisure and your studies; you might find this difficult to achieve at first, but please do not interpret it in a negative light. You have made it into Medical School; that is more than enough evidence to prove that you do belong here, and you need to have sufficient belief in yourself. Trust that the mistakes you make now will become one of your greatest strengths in your future years because that is what will happen after the short bitterness subsides.

Additionally, do not be afraid to ask questions, whether that is the staff, such as Medicine Support, or your peers. There is no such thing as a wrong question, and it will eventually lead to academic and personal growth during your time at the University. Look around, be curious, and delve into the various activities the University offers you, including the wide range of societies and roles inside the school such as Class Representatives and beyond. Class Representatives, elected from each year group, will be working with me in the upcoming academic year to become the bridge between the students and staff, so do not hesitate to run for it if you are interested.

Lastly, as your School President, I will always be here to answer any questions and listen to your concerns and suggestions. Please feel free to approach me if you have any queries, I will be in the School of Medicine building during orientation week, and you will often see me in the Main Library after school hours once classes begin.

Once again, a warm welcome and congratulations for joining us on this journey, and I hope this course brings you personal growth on top of the academic success that will lead you one step closer to the health professional you wish to become.

Congratulations! You made it to Med School! As you wrap up your summer adventures and embark on this new journey, I hope you can battle the jitters with all the excitement and curiosity that starting university brings. It is an amazing experience, and we at the Medical School and the associated student societies have lots in store for you!

So, who am I? I’m Ayra, the President of the Bute Medical Society for the next academic year. I am thrilled to be welcoming you to St Andrews in September! Be it at the Medical School, the many Bute events or St Andrew’s three streets, you will be sure to catch me somewhere – I guarantee it. So, please come say hi! I would love to chat, answer any questions, or offer my expertise on the best cafés in town. I am a croissant connoisseur first and foremost.

Um… what is the Bute Medical Society? It is only the biggest, oldest, (best) and most well-established student society at the University of St Andrews! It boasts an active student body of 550 members and is an integral part of medic life for most of us here. Being a medical society, Bute offers recreational events that are easy to balance alongside intense studies. Being a medic and a Butie go hand in hand. Bute is intrinsic to the Medical School, and we often co-organise events and research opportunities for students to get involved in. Whilst most of our members are undergraduate and postgraduate medics, we are open to anyone keen on exploring the medical field. Our committees exceptional work means we often yield university awards such as ‘’Best Event,’ ‘Best Society’… the list goes on! As we approach the 110th anniversary of the Bute Medical Society, be prepared for events bigger and better than ever before. We’re going all out this year, and we’d love for you to join us. Some events to jot on your calendars…

Hecklings: Shrouded in mystery, Hecklings is a welcome social for all medic freshers. Held in the first few weeks of Martinmas, it involves crazy challenges and treasure hunts. Memorable (for some) and notoriously fun, every St Andrews medic has a story from Hecklings. I’d tell you more, but I signed an NDA.

Balls: We strive to help you blow off steam in good ol’ Bute fashion; with music, ceilidh dancing, delicious food, and other delights. For this reason, Bute is big on balls. We host three incredible formals:

1. Hippocrates: Our wonderful welcome ball poised in the first semester to help you to get to know other medics!
2. Bute Ball: Our pride and joy, heralding our return in the New Year. Always a gem to remember.
3. St Vitus: Our summer ball celebrating the end of exams and sending off our third year comrades in style.

The best part? Bute subsidises all these events, so we’re known for being the best value for money in town. Ah, the benefits of being a Butie.

Research events:  We encourage our members to be innovators in their fields and expand their horizons. Bute hosts the Bute Innovation Leadership Forum, our impressive inter-societal speaker competition that aims to promote the researching and presenting skills of our members. Bute also advertises opportunities and offers academic talks on what interests you. Be it Surgery or the integration of Medicine and AI, our speakers inspire our members to venture into new areas of research and industry. Many of our speakers are our Med Dems, who teach us in clinical skills and dissection classes.

Sports teams: Teaming up with your fellow Buties to annihilate the other team is an excellent way to boost morale! Bute FC, Bute Rugby, Bute Hockey and Bute Netball have all been big hitters in the past, but we are very much open to sharing the love with an array of other sports and getting a team started. Matches are flexible around the hectic medicine timetable, so medics with commitment issues fear not! With teams of varying abilities and no pressure, it’s a great opportunity to start something new. We are always on the lookout for new members!

Charity events: Pub quiz? Bake off? Fun run? Bute is not afraid to host the classic, fantastic events you love to raise money for our two annually chosen charities. Hugely popular and filled with great energy, our charity events are designed to be a chill way to unwind.  Who wouldn’t want their histology lecturer to join the pub quiz and grill them on Rihanna’s biggest hits?

Bute Revue: You’ll quickly get to know the lecturers and Med Dems. What better way to end the year than make fun of them and your fellow medics at a comedy show? Undoubtedly one of the most iconic Bute events of the year. Just wait and see…

What should you be on the lookout for during Freshers’ Week? Alongside all the events, gatherings and exploring during Freshers’ Week, the Medical School has some things planned to help introduce you to fellow students and staff:

Family tours: Alongside staff, the Bute committee will have the pleasure of guiding you and your families/guardians around the Medical School to explore where you’ll be spending the next three years. Whilst you might remember some aspects from your interviews, this will be your first opportunity to check it out for real! Feel free to ask your guides (second and third year medics) any questions that you may have. Tea and coffee will also be provided! Do not worry if you are unable to attend these tours, as there will be ample opportunity to explore the school throughout the week.

Introduction: Alongside introductory talks on Monday from staff, you’ll be able to meet Jimin, the School of Medicine President, and myself to hear more about what we do for med students.

Meet Your Group Sessions: You will be shown around the Medical School by current students once more in your assigned groups. This serves as a great way to get to know your fellow group members; these are the folk you’ll be spending clinical practice sessions with!

Bute BBQ Social: Our long-standing tradition is a Bute BBQ on Monday evening in the Medicine Courtyard. Feel free to grab some food, relax and mingle. Vegetarian and vegan options will also be available.

Medics Freshers’ Fayre: All medical societies and unions will have a stall for you to ask questions and sign up. Most societies will be on the lookout for some First Year Representatives to join the committee. Being a First Year Rep in my first year was a brilliant way to meet some people, especially from other year groups – would highly recommend applying. You’ll find the Bute stall at Freshers Fayre too!

Bute Bonfire: What better way to kickstart the weekend and explore St Andrews beaches than with a bonfire! Another Bute tradition, hosted on Friday of Freshers Week. Many second and third year students attend the bonfire, so this is a brilliant opportunity to ask questions in a more informal environment!

Help desk: During Orientation Week, we will have a staffed “help desk” by the foyer of the Medical School to help re-direct you or answer any questions! Our staff are very friendly so don’t be afraid to approach them if you are unsure of anything.

Is there anything I can do now?

• Follow @butemedics, @standmedicine and @standrewsunion  on Instagram.
• Join your fellow medics before you come to St Andrews on the “St Andrews Medic Freshers 2024/25” Facebook page.
• If you have any questions for Bute, we would be delighted to help. You can email our secretary on [email protected]
• Congrats! You’re ready for Freshers!

I hope I’ve helped the jitters and given you much to look forward to! I’ve only scratched the surface of what you can expect from us in Martinmas. Freshers’ Week will be bustling with the unpacking, forms to fill out, stethoscopes and lab coats to get hold of. It may be difficult to find a moment to sit back and relax. I’ve found, however, that things have a funny way of falling into place. Eventually.

So, before you enter the gleaming gates of our small, bustling town on the East Coast of Scotland, remember that you have an entire Summer ahead to relax, be proud, and get excited. St Andrews is a truly wonderful place to study. The Bute Medical Society and University of St Andrews look forward to welcoming you in September.

Dear ScotGEM Class of 2024!  Congratulations and a big welcome to the ScotGEM course. You’ve worked hard to get here,  it is a great achievement and you can be really proud of yourselves.  I’m Astrid Novicky, one of the ScotGEM 2023 Year 1 Class Reps and I have a few tips for this upcoming year.

I’d recommend taking some rest over the summer before starting. When you arrive, stay focused in class, on your clinical placements, and in the Anatomy sessions. Try to get the most out of the teaching sessions, and learn from both your teachers and your peers. I found it helpful to join study sessions with other students, and quiz each other, while also having some fun.

Medicine is a marathon and I think it is crucial to live now and make sure to always have time to do something for you, whether that’s a sports class, theatre, or hanging out with your friends and talking about something non-medical. There is a danger of believing that medicine can take over your life, but I think it is important to remember that it is just one part of it. Personally, I decided to learn another skill while being at medical school and started Karate in October, which I really enjoy and will hopefully grade to a red belt a day before exams. 😅

When I feel stressed or overwhelmed I like to remember what an absolute privilege it is to be here. You’ll get fantastic teaching from clinicians and hands-on practical experience in both anatomy and in a GP setting. I find it helpful to only compare myself to myself and feel proud when I remember how much I learned. It is also rewarding to study in a spiral curriculum and continuously learn new knowledge and build on existing. Also, remember that you don’t need to know everything by week 1.

Med school can feel overwhelming at times, but you got into this course for a reason, so you deserve to be here and you can do this. This course is unique because everyone is coming from different backgrounds and therefore has a range of experiences and skills: no matter what your experience is, it will bring something to this course.

I’m looking forward to meeting you in person in September.

I am Jemima, one of the ScotGEM 2023 Year 1 Class Reps, and I am delighted to welcome you to ScotGEM and the beginning of your medical school journey. Here are some insights to help you prepare for your first year, which will be both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Firstly, congratulations on reaching this milestone. Your hard work and dedication have brought you here, and this year promises to be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your academic life, despite its challenges.

Each of you has taken a unique path to get here, and that diversity is a strength. It’s normal to experience imposter syndrome but remember that you all have unique skills and perspectives that will enrich your learning. Whether your background is in science, law, classics, or any other field, your previous experiences will be invaluable. One of the best pieces of advice we received was to rely on our peers as teachers – and they were right!

You will hit the ground running with the ScotGEM course, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times due to the demanding workload. Finding healthy coping mechanisms and maintaining a balance between your studies and personal life is crucial. Many of us found solace in running groups, sea swims, and munro trips, which provided much-needed breaks and helped prevent burnout.

Finally, this year will be over before you know it, so make the most of every moment. Get involved, build friendships, and just enjoy the learning process. The time will fly by faster than you can imagine, so appreciate each experience along the way.

I wish you all the best and we look forward to welcoming you to the course in person this September.

The 2024/25 ScotGEM Student Contract will be available by the end of July. The 2023/24 version can be viewed on the School Handbook Please familiarise yourself with the contacts before arrival – however do not sign the contract yet – you will be asked to do this when you are here.

Students should be familiar with the School of Medicine Handbook. There is a section of the handbook, which relates specifically to ScotGEM (MBChB).

Click for web based handbook

You will complete an online Disclosure Scotland ‘Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme’ application form with a member of professional services staff.  As soon as your offer becomes unconditional firm (when you have met any and all of your conditions of offer), you should email 3 forms of supporting ID to [email protected]. If your offer is already unconditional firm, please send this information to us as soon as possible. You will be given an individual appointment time for a meeting on Microsoft Teams, please check your emails regularly throughout the summer for further information.

Please familiarise yourself with the online guidance which advises you on the information you will require to complete the online application as you only have 7 days to complete this after your meeting. If you are already a scheme member, find out if you are a member for both adults and/or children and also your Scheme membership number as you will need this information at your appointment.

If you are already a PVG scheme member please send us a copy of your most recent certificate along with your IDs. If you do not provide a copy of your PVG certificate your application will be put through as a new scheme member.

The Occupational Health Questionnaire will be emailed to you by the Admissions Team once your offer becomes Unconditional Firm. It should be completed and returned directly to the NHS Tayside address on the Questionnaire as soon as possible.

If an appointment is required following review of your completed PPQ, you will be notified by email. Please ensure you supply your personal email address and not an institutional one (please check your spam boxes regularly as sometimes NHS emails end up there). SMS text messages will be sent as reminders 24 hours prior to an appointment.

Accommodation should be arranged before you arrive. For St Andrews visit the University’s new entrants and orientation web page and follow the accommodation link. Accommodation applications should be submitted by 30th June 2024. As you will be aware ScotGEM semester is longer than standard semesters therefore it is important to let accommodation services know you would like accommodation for a longer term. There is no guarantee that all ScotGEM students will be allocated accommodation that they can stay in until the end of the final semester, therefore please check the end date on your accommodation contract. Please note all standard catered UG residences close during the Christmas vacation period. Any student who applies for and accepts this type of residence will have to vacate during this period. All students in these residences can apply for Christmas vacation accommodation but if they do not apply, they will not be allocated anything due to limited numbers of rooms. Any ScotGEM student who is offered accommodation for 2024/25 in a standard catered will have to submit an application for Christmas Vacation accommodation in early November 2024. Accommodation may also be available through the University of Dundee. ScotGEM applicants who wish to be considered for student residences at the University of Dundee may contact [email protected] to request an application invitation to be sent to them. See the University of Dundee website for more information https://www.dundee.ac.uk/accommodation/.

The New Undergraduate Students page contains important information for students who are matriculating (registering) at the University of St Andrews for the first time as entrants to the ScotGEM Programme.

Be aware that there are a number of admin tasks to do before you come to St Andrews. You will find a helpful list on the New Undergraduate Students page. https://whttps://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/new-students/ug/scotgem/ww.st-andrews.ac.uk/newstudents/.

Welcome to ScotGEM! You already have lots of pre-existing ideas about Medicine because Medicine is about people and you have been living with them, observing them, thinking about them in one way or another all your life.

Many of you will have had contact with medical professionals, doctors, nurses or other members of the allied health professionals. Something about these interactions has made you aspire to join the medical profession. Professionalism is something we are all striving towards. It is easy to recognise professionalism when we see it in action but much more challenging to define the term.

Your first ScotGEM task: What does professionalism mean to me?

There are two parts to this task.

Part 1: What does professionalism mean to me?
Access your pre-existing knowledge and experiences and use this to form the basis of your written response to the question; “What does professionalism mean to me?” There is no requirement for references. The expected length is 300 words (+/- 10%). Please do not send it in to us before you arrive but note that this will be the very first item you are asked to upload to your professional portfolio.

We don’t want you to:
Conduct a literature search.
We don’t even want you to use google.
We especially don’t want you to worry about this task.

We do want you to:
Spend about an hour on the task.
Write from your personal viewpoint you may all have different ideas (we hope so!) but they will all be valid.

Part 2: Identify THREE keywords
We would like you to identify THREE keywords that for you, epitomise professionalism. We ask that you share them with us via this form before you arrive.

Come along prepared to discuss your views on professionalism during Orientation week.

Once your offer becomes unconditional firm, please complete the Scrub Size Form to enable clinical skills staff to order your scrubs before the start of the academic year.  Scrub size dimensions are shown below (the suppliers recommend that female wearers take a size smaller than their usual size).

Tunic

Trousers

Read the NHS Tayside Student Handcare Advice sheet.

Then complete the Skin Surveillance Declaration before 19th August.

Please remember to bring copies of any documentation related to your past vaccinations. Students are encouraged to keep this record to prove their immunisation history through their studies and working life. If you have missed any scheduled immunisations and your situation allows please catch up with these prior to starting at St Andrews. In addition, students are strongly recommended to demonstrate evidence of or take vaccination for BCG, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Influenza and Covid.

Guidance is that all healthcare workers, which includes medical students, should be up to date with their routine immunisations, e.g. tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR. The MMR vaccine is especially important in the context of the ability of healthcare workers/medical students to transmit measles, mumps or rubella infections to vulnerable groups. While healthcare workers/medical students may need MMR vaccination for their own benefit, they should also be immune to measles, mumps and rubella in order to assist in protecting patients. Satisfactory evidence of protection would include documentation of having received two doses of MMR or having had positive antibody tests for measles, mumps and rubella.

In certain circumstances students may require to be screened for TB. This would include students who have travelled from high risk TB countries (Countries or distinct parts of countries characterized by a high burden of TB incidence >100/100 000 in the population), have been in contact with TB or are exhibiting symptoms associated with an active TB infection.

Prior to the administration of the recommended BCG (TB) immunisation, all students will require a Mantoux skin test to establish any past infection (latent or active).

Books

We are aware that you will have many questions about the course and what you should be doing to prepare.

We are often asked ‘What shall I do about textbooks?’ For this reason we thought it would be useful to give you this list of recommended texts and to offer some advice about buying them. Please do not feel that you must rush to buy the texts before you get here (excess baggage can be heavy and expensive!) plus you will have access to all core textbooks electronically.

If you do wish to buy textbooks, we recommend choosing textbooks you will find useful for all four years of the programme: take some time to ask peers in the years above, or to appraise how much you benefit you’d get from owning physical copies knowing you will have e-textbook access and access to physical copies via the library too. Although our list may seem lengthy and expensive, it is unlikely that you will have to buy any other essential texts while you are at St Andrews.

The books will be available for purchase, and can be ordered in advance, from Blackwell’s Bookshop located in the Students Association Building in St Andrews. Blackwell’s  can be reached at tel: 01334 476367 or email: [email protected]

In making a decision to select textbooks, not only do we try to find those best suited to our course but also, if possible, the books also include access to the publisher’s on-line learning resources.

eBooks 

The Medical School and the University library have licensed several eBooks from different publishers (see reading list) providing you with electronic access to all the core texts required. This provides on-line access to the texts without restriction using your University user name/password combination. In addition to the core reading list which you may consider buying some books from, there are additional texts available on-line. Though these are considered to be very useful throughout our curriculum, we do not think it is essential for you to buy these actual texts.
An important thing to note about most eBooks is that they are often not accompanied by the extra on-line resources which are available if you buy the texts and activate the access codes to the publisher’s web site.

University of St Andrews MBChB (ScotGEM) Reading List (2024/25) follow the link, log in, click on ‘Find Lists‘ and change each search field to ALL, then type MBChB in the search box.

The Medical School and the University library subscribe to a number of key eBooks which will be available online to all medical students. Our advice is to wait until you get to St Andrews before making decisions about purchasing. Note that the library only holds 20 copies of each so it is recommended that students who prefer using physical copies consider buying their own copies in order to access the course literature in their own time. Additionally, most textbooks offer online resources that you can access using a code found within your purchased copy of the textbook. You should check that you are buying the most recent edition. 

Is there anything I could be reading before I come?

Students often ask us if they should read anything in preparation for Medical School. Rather than burden yourself with facts before you actually come, we suggest that students might rather read something that stimulates the mind! Suggestions of books staff have read include:-

• Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ( ISBN-10:150987702, ISBN-13:978-1509877027)
• Atul Guwande: Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the EndT (ISBN: 978-0-8050-9515-9)
• Tools of the Trade: Poems for New Doctors feature some St Andrews faces and is given to St Andrews students when they graduate, you can read about the project here

You will need to have your own stethoscope and laboratory coats for our clinical skills training.

Stethoscopes: We currently recommend the Classic Littmann III stethoscope, which you can find at: Medisave It is very important for your basic training that your stethoscope has both a bell and a diaphragm. The Classic Littmann Classic III is all you need; you will NOT require a specialist cardiology- or electronic stethoscope.

Where do I get a Stethoscope?
Use Google to research this. Both Medisave and the BMA (British Medical Association) also offer a discount for St Andrews students, Medisave discount is site wide if you enter STANDREWS5 (this discount code is only for use by St Andrews Medical Students, this should not be shared) and BMA offer a discount on stethoscopes from August for students who join. There are a variety of suppliers and some special deals may be available after you arrive in St Andrews.

Laboratory Coats: You will need a white lab coat for the Dissection Room. We recommend “Howie” type lab coats but any white lab coat that is long sleeved with elasticated wrist and long enough to cover the thighs is acceptable. Ideally, it has snap fasteners (or press studs, instead of buttons) all the way up to the neck for easy opening and can be washed at higher temperatures. Although there are some available for purchase locally at Students Association shop, supplies are limited, therefore it may be better to buy one before you come to St Andrews, some suppliers include:

• Lab Coats – Howie
• Lab Coats – University Shop

Should you be unable to purchase one before the start of term, you can borrow a lab coat from the Anatomy Team, donated by former students, dry-cleaned and in good condition until yours is delivered.

Safety Glasses: You will need your own safety glasses for dissection. There are many suitable types, some examples are:

• Normal type
• ‘Over the Glasses’ type

Example of Dissecting Room lab coat and safety glasses:

NHS Fife expects all staff and medical students to adopt the standards we set for conduct, dress and appearance. The way staff and students dress sends messages about their professionalism and standards of care to service users, carers, colleagues and members of the public.

The following guidance is not meant to be exhaustive but provides a quick framework for students to follow. It is in keeping with NHS Fife Dress Code and Uniform Policy (2020) which aims to ensure that all involved in care delivery maintain safety, convey a professional image and instill and maintain public confidence.

As students learning within a practice environment, you are expected to follow this guidance at all times during hospital or community based placements and also within a simulated clinical environment.

• Wear your identity badge that confirms you are a student.
• Dress in a discreet and professional manner to convey a professional image and create and maintain public confidence.
• Arms should be ‘bare below the elbow’ when delivering clinical care/working in or visiting a clinical area.

Where for religious reasons, students wish to cover their forearms during patient care activity; it is acceptable to wear disposable over-sleeves where gloves are used, with strict adherence to hand and wrist washing before and after use. Over-sleeves must be disposed of as disposable gloves. Where for religious reasons, students wish to cover their upper forearms during patient care activity, it is acceptable to wear three-quarter length sleeves. Three-quarter length sleeves must not be loose or dangling. They must be able to be rolled or pulled back and kept securely in place during hand-washing and direct patient care activity.

• Wear appropriate footwear (clean, in a good state of repair, enclosed heels and toes). Excessively high heels should not be worn. Shoes should be black or navy however it is acknowledged that many staff/students, in particular those involved with moving and handling of patients, prefer to wear trainers. If trainers are worn they should be where possible black or navy, must be clean and made of a non-pervious material.
• Tattoos that could be considered offensive should be covered where this does not compromise good clinical practice.
• Keep hair tied back and off the collar.
• Jewellery is restricted to wearing one plain metal finger ring, any visible body piercings should be plain studs. Wristwatches, fitness tracker wrist- straps and bracelets must not be worn when in clinical areas. Jewellery worn for religious reasons such as Kara bangles worn by initiated Sikhs do not require to be removed for hand decontamination, however, they should be pushed up the arm and secured in place to enable effective hand decontamination and during all direct patient activity.
• Keep finger nails short and clean. No nail varnish, false nails or nail extensions should be worn.
• Cosmetics, perfume and aftershave should be discreet.
• Neck ties or lanyards should not be worn when in clinical areas.
• Pens or scissors should not be carried in outside shirt pockets.
• Store your stethoscope in a safe place such as your pocket or in your bag when moving between clinical areas or during breaks. Stethoscopes should not be worn around the neck.

For the purposes of learning clinical skills students practice non-intimate examinations on each other.  You may therefore also wish to pack some sports wear, such as shorts (and/or leggings) and a t-shirt; or an acceptable suitable equivalent. Examples of clinical dress code are:-

At the time of entry to Medical School students will be screened for tuberculosis (where appropriate), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection and any necessary immunisations and antibody tests will be performed. It is strongly recommended that all entrants complete a course of immunisation against Hepatitis B virus in order to fully participate in clinical placements. Applicant students who have/had an infection with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV are not precluded from training to be a doctor. This may place restrictions on the student’s clinical training and limit their medical practice following qualification. Students who have/had an infection of this nature and wish to discuss this further before making a decision should contact the Occupational Health Services, via the Pro Dean ([email protected]), who will be able to advise on current policy. Applicants or students who are affected by any of these diseases should consider their position as it may have implications on their future career choices. Further advice can be found in the Medical Schools Council publication Medical and dental students: Health clearance for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Tuberculosis

If you feel your health or a disability may impact on your studies please get in touch early.  We hope this video created by medical students helps you.

If you want to explore this further contact [email protected] putting “support” in the subject line.  If you have any specific concerns or questions in relation to support available for medical students please do get in contact with the Medical Support Team on  [email protected] .  We want you to achieve your full potential.

ScotGEM: Changing the future medical workforce – Third sector placements for medical students

Angela Flynn, ScotGEM Agents of Change Director, email: [email protected]

Jayne Stuart, ScotGEM Service Learning and Community Engagement Vertical Theme Lead, email: [email protected]

Summary
As a Year 1 ScotGEM medical student you will complete at least 20 hours in a third sector community placement or project, offering positive benefits for both students and third sector partners.

Background
The ambition of the ScotGEM programme is for new doctors in the 21st century to be able to both deliver care and develop healthcare systems. Much medical training is focused upon using techniques to gather information from each individual patient in order to inform the choice and delivery of treatment. However, to practice as an effective medical professional within local and global communities we believe that a fuller understanding of these communities is essential.

Through spending time with third-sector organisations and local communities, you will be able to develop a fuller understanding of the social determinants of health and the impact on health and well being. You will also see ways that you can work in partnership with third-sector organisations to give the best clinical care you can.
Examples of previous students’ activities include:

• Attending support groups
• Creating and offering food parcels
• Community gardening
• Developing activities for children and young people
• Meeting with and supporting people who live on the streets
• Investigating community needs and assets

What this means for you
As a ScotGEM student, you are required to undertake one of these placements or projects during October-December 2024. Information and support will be provided to help you make choices about what kind of activity you would like to experience. We endeavour to meet your placement or project preferences.

When you start the course in September, you will be given details about what placements and projects are available, when they occur and how you submit your preferences. In the meantime, please think about the type of voluntary sector placement or project you would like to take part in; this may continue from previous experience you have had, or you may wish to try something different. There is also the option of self-selecting a third-sector organisation with whom you already have a link with.

“You couldn’t learn this in a classroom. You have to experience it” – a previous ScotGEM Year 1 student.

“My volunteering experience with (the charity) was transformational and really fuelled my passion for inclusion and advocacy for people with (this condition), who are one of the most isolated and marginalised groups in society” – a previous ScotGEM Year 1 student.

Monday of Orientation
The formal School of Medicine orientation begins at 9.00am on Monday of orientation week, which will be in person – all timetabling information will be found on your Solas timetable which you will log into with your username (first part of your university email address) and email password here.

At this introductory event, you will be welcomed by the Dean of Medicine, the ScotGEM Programme Director and Deputy Director and the Year 1 Lead. During orientation week there will be a full programme of introductory classes specifically organised by the School of Medicine for new medical students – these will be delivered live and in person. Your attendance at these classes is essential since they will help you to find your feet in the early stages of your medical course.

The Orientation Week provisional programme for ScotGEM.

Academic support

The University Orientation Week Programme includes guidance on study skills which may help you in the transition to this programme.  The School is committed to supporting you during your medical studies, but in common with other studies at graduate level, we are unable to provide individual help on a daily basis. The Medical School provides many resources to help you monitor your own progress, and the University provides study skills sessions via CEED for those requiring additional help, this includes one-on-one study skill appointments, skills workshops and online resources, but you ultimately have to take charge of your own studies. 

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will meet with you periodically to discuss your progress. Your tutor can help you identify and reflect on the support you may need to balance your studies with the other opportunities available to you as a student of our University.

Previous SCOTGEM Y1 student (1)

Do not underestimate the workload – but never sell yourself short! You got into ScotGEM and are therefore more than capable of tackling it!

Find a study technique that works for you!

• A popular study technique among medical students is through using flashcards, namely Quizlet and ANKI. See if that works for you, find out which one you prefer OR use both!
• There are loads of resources out there, find the ones that help YOU the best. Here’s some to get you started: The Oxford Handbook of clinical medicine, Zero to Finals website, Osmosis and Amboss.
• The Learning Objectives, Lectures, KuraCloud and CLIC materials will help guide you when feeling lost on how in-depth to study.
• Regular and consistent studying and revision goes a long way – remember, little and often!

The Clinical Placements (GCM Days) are what you make of them – take advantage of the early patient and clinical interactions and put yourself out there.

You and your peers are all part of the same unique experience that is ScotGEM, so be there for one another and help each other out – no one knows what you’re going through best than those with you along the ride.

You all come from a wide array of backgrounds, so avoid trying to compare yourselves with your colleagues. You all come with your own unique skill sets and study styles.

Appreciate that medicine requires a lifelong commitment to learning. You won’t be able to learn everything there is to know all at once, and that includes first year content. Know when enough studying is enough and remember that it’s okay to not be 100% on top of it all.

Join sports teams and clubs and participate in what both St. Andrews and Dundee University has to offer. Medicine itself can be very insular, and its important to try and make connections outside of ScotGEM

Try and organise activities with your course mates so that you have something to do and talk about other than medicine.

Lastly, don’t neglect your physical and mental health!

You’re going to have a truly memorable time at ScotGEM. We’re excited to welcome you to this amazing experience, and we hope you enjoy the ride.

Previous SCOTGEM Y1 student (2)

A popular study technique amongst students is using flashcards, namely Quizlet or Anki. The main advantage of Quizlet is that you can create a study set and add it to multiple different set folders, so you might add your ‘anti-epileptic drugs’ set to your ‘week 25 – headache’ folder AND to your ‘pharmacology folder’. You can then study an entire folder at a time, which makes it easier to focus your studying, by case of the week, or by system. Others prefer Anki, because it applies the ‘spaced repetition’ study technique.

You want to revise as you go. Preparing for the week’s content during the weekend prior makes a huge difference. If you prepare flashcards on your lectures, clinical skills, and anatomy, during the weekend before they happen, you will save yourself a lot of stress, and you will be able to give your full attention during the live delivery of the material. Don’t take too much time on making these flashcards, even screenshots of lecture slides can suffice, as at least it means you’ve read the material once before it’s delivered. Preparing your study materials in advance also means that you can actually revise them as the week progresses, using your flashcards, and you’ll feel much more on top of things. It also means you have time during the week to enjoy the societies and events that the university has to offer!

Try to prioritise sleep, healthy meals and snacks, and sports, to avoid burnout! The fitness center has really fun gym classes – I highly recommend Zumba!

The learning objectives, the lectures, and the CLIC guide will guide you on the depth of learning you should aim for.

‘The Oxford Handbook of clinical medicine’, the Zero to Finals website, Osmosis, and Amboss are huge life savers if you’re struggling to get your head around any concepts.

Useful tips and advice from your School President

Engage with the Orientation: There are plenty of facilities around the school that are worth knowing, and Solas is definitely helpful if you take plenty of time to explore its functions. Look at every nook and cranny during Orientation week and bring out the explorer in you! However, don’t be afraid if you don’t remember everything in one go because that is normal.

Try out and be open to different study methods: It is worth looking at diverse study methods and finding out which suits you best. Don’t be afraid if a study method you thought would work out doesn’t; trial and error are essential in medical school.

Learn how to make a realistic plan: Planning is easy to do, but being realistic needs practice; set a goal of what you ‘want’ to do and what you are ‘able’ to do and prioritise a few things that you ‘can’ do and ‘should’ do.

Balance your studying and well-being: Medical school does seem like a lot, but it doesn’t mean you should spend all your time studying. Enjoy spending time with friends or by yourself to make sure you get to relax, thus taking care of yourself so that you do not burn out. This also means getting plenty of sleep.

Get involved in plenty of societies: You don’t have to join a lot of societies or go and try out every activity, but since there are a lot of societies, it is always worth having a look around and picking a few that you would like to have continuous interest in. You can always explore freely and decide to join the committee in later years.

Don’t be afraid to approach other medical students: It is expected to be nervous when meeting new people, but remember, all the other freshers feel like that, too! Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with them because, deep down, they might want to talk too. Also, do not hesitate to approach students in different years; we love answering questions, giving advice, or just chatting about how bad the weather is.

Do not be intimidated: I get that when first entering medical school, it might seem huge, scary, and intimidating. However, I want to emphasise that it is perfectly okay to not understand something at once and have many questions you want to ask. Therefore, feel free to ask staff questions after a lecture or when you see them in the School café; they are very friendly and eager to answer questions.